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Special forces to strike at Taliban

MORE than 200 SAS and SBS troops are being flown to Afghanistan this weekend to mount a search and destroy operation against the Taliban, writes Michael Smith.

The reinforcements will double the number of British special forces on the ground and commanders hope that they will be able to deal the Taliban a crippling blow.

Senior defence sources said: “We need to break the back of this offensive now in one fell swoop.”

Des Browne, the defence secretary, is expected to tell MPs tomorrow that at least one additional battle group of about 700 infantry soldiers, extra transport helicopters and more ground attack aircraft are also being sent.

The move is in response to intelligence indicating that fighting in which six British soldiers have died may be the prelude to a much larger Taliban offensive.

The only frontline British soldiers on the ground in Helmand are one infantry battalion and